Package-receptacle.



Patentd Jan. 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I H. J. SCHL-ACKS. PACKAGE RECEPTACLE. APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. s. 1916.

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H. J. SCHLACKS.

- PACKAGE RECEPTACLE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8', ms.

1,292,092. Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

. 2 SHEETS-$HEET 2- HENRY J. SCHLACKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PACKAGE-RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1919.

Application filed March 8, 1916. Serial No. 82,815.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. SCHLACKS, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Package-Receptacles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. 7

This invention relates to improvements in package and parcel receptacles for the doors or walls of residences and apartments, adapted to receive articles delivered during the absence of the tenant, and which are accessible from the exterior of the building.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide a receptacle of this character which is normally collapsed so as to lie flat, or substantially flat, against the door or wall when not in use, and which is automatically formed to receive parcels and packages upon opening the gate or door lending access to the receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible receptacle of the character defined which, after being expanded, or positioned to receive articles, is automatically supported in said position to retain delivered packages and parcels.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic latch for the door or gate giving access to the receptacle which is inoperative to lock said door when the receptacle is in its collapsed position, but which automatically becomes positioned to lock the door against reopening after the packages have been delivered and the door closed.

Other objects of the invention .will be apparent from the following specification:

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts here'- inafte'r fully described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings illustrating a suitable embodiment of the invention: Figure -1 is a view in side elevation of a receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention showing the same positioned to receive articles, the door giving access thereto from the exterior being open.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation showing certaln detalls of construction.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sec-' tion of the receptacle when positioned to receive articles showing the door closed and locked to prevent reopening thereof from the exterior after delivery of articles has been made.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3'. taken on the line 4l4 of Fig. 5, showing the receptacle in its collapsed position.

Fig. -5 is a view in elevation from the exterior showing the door in its closed position, the receptacles being indicated in dotted lines in the position shown in Figs. 1- and 3-.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line 6-6 of .Fig. 3-.

The device comprises a door-frame comprising a plate 1 which is adapted to be secured to the inner face of the door and which is provided with a rectangular opening bordered by a flange 2 adapted to be remired in a rectangular opening in the door 3. The said door-frame 'is also equipped with inwardly projecting side flanges 4 on opposite sides, through which the pivot rods 5 and 6 of hinges extend. Secured to the upper portion of the plate 1 is a leaf 7 of the hinge through which the rod 6 extends, the other leaf of said hinge being secured to the flange 8 of the top wall 9 of the receptacle. Secured to the lower portion of the plate 1 is the leaf 10 of the hinge through which the rod 5 extends, the other leaf thereof being secured to the bottom wall 11 of the receptacle. Pivotally mounted on the rod 5 is a door 12 fitting the said rectangular opening bordered by the flange 2 and adapted to close the same, said door being equipped with a latch 13 of any suitable construction, the bolt 14 of which projects into an opening in the upper flange 2 bordering said opening for said door or gate 12. f

Hinged to the other ends of the upper wall 9 and lower wall 11 of the receptacle is the rear wall 15 thereof- Normally the said top, bottom and rear As shown in Fig. -6-, a vertical shaft 16 is mounted in flanges 17 projecting inwardly from the top and bottom walls of the rectangular door-frame of the device. shaft is equipped at its upper end with a crank 18 by means of which it may be rotated. Rigid with which is adapted to constitute a side wall of said receptacle when positioned as shown in Fig. -6-. Engaged with said plate 19 and a rigid part of the device is the helical spring 20 which is adapted to normally hold said plate 19 in the position shown in Fig. -6. and in engagement with an edgeflange 21 on the rear wall 15 of the receptacle.

- Rigid with the said door or gate 12 and projecting downwardly from the hinge of the same are projections 22 which, when said door. 12 is closed, lie substantially flat against or parallel with and in. close proximity to the door 3 below the opening for the door'frame of the receptacle. As the said door or gate 12 is swung to the position shownin Fig. 1-the said projections 22 engage the lower wall 11 of the receptacle and raise the same to the position shown in Figs. -1 and 3-, thus at the same time raising the rear wall 15 and top wall 9 respectively, to the positions shown in said figures. As soon as this is accomplished the spring 20 will cause the'plate 19 to spring to the position shown in Fig. 6-, and will support the top wall in the position shownin Figs. 1-- and 3-, thus maintaining the receptacle positioned to receive packages.

Pivotally mounted on said door or gate 12 and on the interior face thereof is a latch member 23 normally held in the position shown in Fig. 3-, by-means of a spring 2 1 engaged therewith. When the top wall 9 is positioned, as shown in Figs. 1 and -3, the said flange 8 thereof will be disposed in the path of the inner end of said latch member 23, shoulder 25 adapted to spring over the lower edge flange 26 of said flange 8, and engage the inner edge of the same. This latch member 2.3 is not accessible from the exterior of the door or gate 12, so that when the door or gate is closed after the receptacle has been opened to receive. packages, said latch member 23 willmainta-in said door or gate looked, as shown. The door or gate 12 is ield normally closed by a spring 27 in well-known manner.

After removing delivered articles the shaft 16 is turned by means of the. crank- 18 to swing the plate 19 tov extend substantially parallel with the inner faeeof the door or gate whereupon the receptacle will automatically collapse to again assume the position shown in Fig. ithereby-drawing the fiange'S and its edge flange 26 out of This said shaft is a plate 19 which is provided with a engaging relation to the latch member 23 whereupon the operation may be repeated. The said plate 19 is held in the last-named position against the action of said springs 20 by the top wall 9.

The advantage of space economy of the device will be obvious, as well as that it normally a'flords no projection with which the tenon is apt to collide inadvertently. It is also very simple and cheap, and easily installed.

The device iscapable of modification and variation without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my. invention:

1. A package receptacle for doors and the likecomprising a plurality ofpivotally connected walls normally collapsed to lie close to the inner face of the support therefor and pivotally movable relatively to said support, a door for said receptacle pivotally disposed in an opening in the support for said receptacle, and means actuated by the said receptacle door adapted, when the latter is opened, to impart pivotal. motion to, the walls of saidreceptacle to position the latter to provide package receiving space therein, and means associated with said receptacle walls for automatically maintaining the same in the position to which they are moved by opening said door, the latter being adapted to be closed without disturbing the position of the said receptacle walls.

2. Package receiving means including a support for packages pivotallymounted contiguous to an opening throughwhich packages are adapted to be delivered andnormally disposed out of supporting position, a doorfor closing said opening,'means effecting operative engagement between said door and said support for automatically positioning said support to receive packages as said door is opened, and means operating independently of saiddoor and automatically engaging said support for maintaining the same positioned to support packages as sai door is closed.

3. Package receiving means including a support for packages pivotally mounted contiguous to an opening through which packages are. adaptedv to be delivered and normally disposed out of supporting position, a door for closing said opening, means effecting operative engagement between said door and said support for automatically positioningsaid support to receive packages as said door-is opened, means operating independently of said door and automatically engaging said support for maintaining the same positioned to support packages as said door is closed, a spring-held latch-member carried by said door and inoperable from the exterior thereof, and a companion latch-member associated with one of the remaining,

due

parts adapted to be positioned to engage said ppened, and

' in operative position relatively to said parcel supporting means and adapted to swing into position to maintain said parcel supporting means in parcel supporting position after being moved thereto by the opening of the door and permitting closure of the latter without efi'ecting a change in position of said supporting means.

Package receiving means of the character set forth, including a hinged door eon- 4 trolling a parcel delivery opening, means and adapted to move said within the opening for supporting arcels, said means normally disposed out o parcel supporting position, means actuated by the door for positioning said parcel receiving means to support parcels as said door is opened, spring-actuated means disposed in operative position relatively to said parcel supporting means and adapted to swing into position to maintain said parcel supporting means in parcel supporting position after being moved thereto by the opening of the door and permitting closure of the latter without effecting a change in position of said supporting means, a spring-held latch-member carried by said door and inoperable from the exterior thereof, and a companion latchmember associated with one of the remaining parts adapted to be positioned to engage said latch-member on said door as the same is closed after said support has been positioned to support packages, whereby reopening of the door from the exterior thereof is prevented.

6. Parcel receiving means for doors and the like comprising a parcel supporting member pivotally mounted on the inner face of the door or the like contiguous to the lower wall of an opening in the latter and normally disposed substantially parallel with the inner face thereof, a hinged door for closing said opening, means rigid with the said door and disposed between said 1 parcel supporting member and the opposed ace of the door or the like when said door is closed member to parcel supporting position when the door is opened, and a spring-held support for said member normally positioned out of supporting re lation thereto and adapted to automatically move into supporting relation thereto as said member is moved to parcel supporting positlon.

7. Parcel receiving means for doors and the like comprising a parcel supporting member pivotally mounted on the inner face of the door or the like contiguous to the lower wall of an opening in the latter and normally disposed substantially parallel with the inner face thereof, a hinged door for closing said opening, means rigid with the said door and disposed between said parcel supporting member, and the opposed face of the door or the like when said door is closed and adapted to move said member to parcel supporting opened, a spring-held support for said member normally positioned out of supporting relation thereto and adapted to automatically move into supporting relation thereto as said member is moved to parcel supporting position, and normally inoperative gate locking means associated with said gate and said parcel-supporting member and adapted to become disposed in interenga-ging relaposition when the door is tion as said member attains parcel supporting position.

Parcel receiving means for doors and,

the llke comprising a parcel supporting member pivotally mounted on the inner face of the door or the like lower wall of an opening in the latter and normally disposed substantially parallel with the inner face thereof, a hinged door for closing said opening, means rigid with the said door and disposed between said pareel supporting member and the opposed face of the door or the like when said door is closed and adapted to move said member to parcel supporting position when the door is opened, and a normally inoperatively positioned supporting member for said parcel supporting member adapted to move into supporting relation to the latter as the same is moved to parcel-supporting position.

9. Parcel receiving means for doors and the like comprising a parcel supporting member pivotally mounted on the inner face of the door or the like contiguous to the lower wall of an opening in the latter and normally disposed substantially parallel with the inner face thereof, a. hinged door for closing said opening, means rigid with the said door and disposed between said parcel supporting member and the opposed face of the door or the like when said door is closed and adapted to move said member to parcel supporting position when the door is opened, a normally inoperatively positioned supporting member for said parcel supporting member adapted to move into supporting relation to the latter as the same is moved to parcel-supporting position, and

contiguous to the normally inoperative gate locking means associated with said gate and saidlparcelssupporting member and adapted to become disposed in interengaging relation as said member attains parcel supporting position.

10. Parcel receiving means including a door for closing an opening in a wall through which parcels are adapted to be inserted, a normally collapsed receptacle mounted on the inner face of the wall through which said opening extends and lying substantially flat against the inner face thereof, means associated with the door for positioning said receptacle to receive parcels as said door is opened, and a swinging member within the receptacle normally posltioned in front of said opening and adapted to swing away from the same as said door is opened, said member constituting an end wall of the receptacle when the latter is disposed to receive parcels and constituting means for maintaining :the same in said'position as said door is closed.

11.1 Parcel receivingmeans including a door forclosing an opening in a wall through which parcels. are adapted to be inserted, a normally collapsed receptacle mounted on the inner face of the wall through, which said opening extends and lying substantially flat against the inner face thereof, means associated with the door for positioning said receptacle to receive parcels as said door is opened, a swinging member within the receptacle normally positioned in front of said opening and adapted to swing away from the same as said door is opened, said.

' member constituting an end wall of the repositioning ceptacle when the latter 1s disposed to-receive parcels and constituting means for maintaining the same in said position as said door is closed, a latch-member constituting a part of said receptacle, and a companion latch-member on the door, said latch-members disposed out of interengaging relation when said receptacle is collapsed andmo-ving into such relation as said receptacle is movedto parcel receiving position.

12. Parcel receiving means including a door for closing an opening; in a wall through which parcels are adapted to be inserted, a normally collapsed mounted on the inner face of the wall through which saidvopening extends ing substantially fiat against the inner face thereof, means said receptacle to receive parcels as said door is opened, and a swinging spring-actuated member within, the receptacle normally positioned in front of said openingand adapted to swing away from the same as said door is opened, said member constituting an end wall of the receptacle when the latter is disposed to receive parcels and constituting-means for main- 'the latter adapted to receptacle and 1y associated with the door foring taining the same. in said position as saidv door is closed, said swinging member-beings;

adapted to be manually returned to its first. position to collapse said receptacle andbeing held in said position by a part of the latter when collapsed. Y

13. Parcel receiving. means including a door for closing an opening in a wall through whichparcels are adapted to be inserted, a normaly collapsed receptacle mounted on the inner face of the wall through which said opening extends and lying substantially flat against the inner face thereof, means associated with'the door for positioning said receptacle to receive parcels as said door is opened, a swinging springactuated member within the receptacle normally positioned in front of saidopening. and adapted to swingaway from the same as said door is opened, said member constituting an end wall of the receptacle when the latter is disposed to receive parcels and constituting means for maintaining the same in said position as said door is closed, said swingingmember being adapted to :be manually returned to its first position to collapse said receptacle and being held in said position by a part of the latter when collapsed, a latch-member constituting a part of said. receptacle, and a. companion latch-memberonthe door, said latch-members disposed out of interengaging relation when said receptacle is collapsed and moving into such relation as said receptacle is movedto parcel receiving position it. Parcel receiving means including a...

door for closing an opening in a wal through which parcels are adapted to be. inserted, a normally mounted on the inner face of through which said opening extends. and comprising two plates each hinged contiguous to respectively opposed walls of said. opening, and to the outer edges of said first-named plates, be swung on their. hinges to lie substantially parallel with a. face of the part through which said opening eXtends and being normally so positioned, means on the door adapted to engage'one of said plates for swinging all of the same on their hinges to form the receptacle to receive parcels as a swinging member within the receptacle. normally positioned in front of said-open-v and adapted to swing away from the same as said door isopened, saidmember constituting an end wall of the receptacle. when the latter is disposed to receive parcels and constituting means for maintaining the same in said position as said door. is closed. 7

V 15. Parcel-receiving means for doors and the like comprising a closurefor an opening.

said door is.opened,and

collapsed receptacle the wall.

a plate hinged along two edges in the door or the like secured to the outer part of the door and adapted to be moved from closed to open position, a normally collapsed parcel-receiving structure secured as the closure is moved from closed to open 10 position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witto the inner side of the door and closing the nesses.

inner face of said opening, said structure HENRY J. SCHLAOKS. adapted to be extended to parcel-receiving Witnesses:

position, and means operable by the closure M. W. BOYLE,

G. M. WALKER, J r.

copies of this patent may be obtained for flve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

for effecting the extension of said structure 

